Shifter-lock mechanism



G. C. JENSEN. SHIFTER LOCK MECHANISM, APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1919.

Patented Apn 5, 1921 2 SHEETS-SHEET m.

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Ia f Et f6 $5 1 VENTOR 1 m W BY a ATTORNEYS ill G. C. JENSEN. SHIFTER LOCK MECHANISM. APPLICATION HLED JUNE 25. 1919.

1,378,819. Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- I I z t 1 a I 4 23' WITNESS g INV 'NTOR T 2 y Way/4% A TTORNE YS p l j GEORGE C. JENSEN, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

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Applicationfiled June 25, 1919; Sa a noiaoaees.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE C. JENsnN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements .in Shifter: Lock Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved and simplified form of gear shifter retainer, lock, and interlock, and has for its principal objects to provide a construction wherein the members cooperating with the shifters are yieldably held apart in engag ment with the shifters by a spring held device, and wherein a locking bolt is provided for positioning to preclude-the movement 7 of said members toward each other, thereby locking the same in engagement with the shifters. To provide a construction wherein the members cooperating with the shifters are capable of being cheaply manufactured, and. also wherein thespring held retaining member is also capable of being cheaply manufactured, whereby theconstruction is materially simplified and is capable of being manufactured and assembled at little cost.

With the above mentioned and other objects inview, the invention consists inthe novelconstruction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended;

size, and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. To more fully comprehend the invention, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in broken side elevation of the preferred embodiment of my invention. I v

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l, viewed in the direction of the arrows. p

Fig. 3 is a transversesectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion,

struction;

Fig.4is a View similar to Fig. 1, but dis- I parts in elevation as disclosed by a Vertical section through the plunger.

Fig, 6 is a sect onal view taken on (line.

6 -6 of Fig.5.

' Referring to Figs. 1, 2 andj3, thenumeral 1 designates a conventional form of gear box consisting of the base 2 and cover 3. The box is provided with the usual alined V.

openings 4 arranged inspaced relation and wlthln which operate the longitudinally movable parallel spaced gear shifters 5 selectively operated byany suitable. mecha:

,nism, such as a lever 6, The gear box Is provided wlth a bore 7 connecting said openings 4, and said bore 7 is intersected by a bore 8 disposed preferably: atright angles thereto, and extending vertically, the upper end of saidbore being reduced, as at 9, providing a shoulder 10. The bore 8 extends both into the base Qand cover 3,. and in the upper end'of said bore is mounted for lon 'tudinal movement a locking bolt 11 pre erably formed with a reduced lower end 12, the upper end of said bolt adapted for proj ecting through the reduced opening 9 of the bore 8.' v c A shoulder 13 is formed between the upper portion and reduced lower end 12 of the bolt 11, and when the bolt is in its uppermost position said shoulder. contacts with the 3 shoulderlO and precludes further upward movement ofsaid bolt. The bolt when depressed is adapted to be automatically locked in such position by any form of spring pressed, key released locking device, con ventionally illustrated by the reference nu-. meral14. Y K

.Positioned at the lower end of the bore 8, formed within the cover 3, is a suitable 1'6-1 taining plate 15,"formed with an. opening through which the end 12 of said bolt operates, and positioned between said plate and the undersurface of the shoulder 13 is a coiled spring 16 for normally retaining the bolt inraised or retracted position.

The shifters 5 are formed in adjacent faces with the usual stops 17 with which are p movement.

said stops 17 from its associated member said member will contact at its inner end with the other member and maintain said other member in'engagement With its associ ated stop 17, providing aninterlockbetween said shifters. The shifters are also provided with the usual speed stops 20,-and on the movement of one of said shifters to speed position, one of said stops 20 will cooperate with the end of themember 19 associated with the moved shifter, at which time the inner ends of said members will be in slight spaced relation. v j j v To normally separate said members to retain said shifters in their adjusted position, a ball 21is positioned in the bore 8 below said members 19, the same being upwardly pressed by a coiled spring 22 within the upper end of which said ball is seated, said spring maintaining the ball in contact with the beveled surfaces 23, at adjacent ends of the members 19. v I The ball 21 being held bythe upper end of the coiled spring 22 is capable ofmovement laterally of the bore 8 and longitudinally of the bore, whereby on the inward movement-of one of said members 19 the surface of the ball will ride on its beveled surface, and alsoride on the beveled surface of the other member 19, insuring that said other member will be maintained in contact with its associated stop.

On the depression of the bolt 11, when the shifters are in a position, as in Fig. 8, the lower reduced end .12 thereof is of a size to snugly fit between the adjacent ends of the members 19 and preclude inward move- F ment thereof on the operationrof said shifters, whereby said shifters are locked from In the present construction it will be observed that the bore 8 extends both above and below the bore 7-and that the member for yieldably separating the members 19 to retain the shifters 5 in their adjusted position'is in the .form of a ball upwardly. forced by a coiled spring engaging the lower end of the bore 8. I i It will also be apparent that the locking bolt is of simple construction and is normally held upwardly or in released position by a coiled spring 16, said bolt being automatically locked in depressed position by a key released lock mechanism of any conventional type. I

The construction illustrated in Figs. 4,

W5 and 6 includes the same arrangement of elements as in Figs. 1, 2 and 8, with the trated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

exception that the retaining means or the means for yieldably separating the members 19 is of a different form than that illus- In the modified construction, the bore .8

terminates at its intersection with the bore 7, and the'members 1.9 are turned to position the beveled faces 23 thereof upwardly;

In thi s modified constructionthe retaining means. is in the form of a plunger 24 vertically movable within the lower end ofthe bore 8 and formed with a conical lower end 25, the plunger being provided with a vertical bore 26 through which extends the lower end 12 of the bolt ll, said plunger and bolt being capable of movement withinthe bore 8 independently of each other. A single spring 27'. is employed in the'modified construction for normally mainta ning the bolt 11 in raised or retracted position and for yield' ably maintaining the plunger in engage ment with the beveled surfaces 23 of the members 19, said spring being coiled about the reduced end 12 of the bolt 11 and positioned between the underside of'the flange 1.3 and the upper surfaces of the plunger 24:. Having thus described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. in combination with apair of gear shifters provided with stops, a pair of movable members positioned therebetweeii for engaging said shiftersfa locking bolt movable between said members to maintain the samein locked engagement withsaid shifters, and a spring held device cooperatring with the adjacent ends of said members and'movable independently of the bolt for yieldably maiatainin the said members in'cooperative relationwith said shiftposition. J j v 25in combinationj-withj a pair of gear shifters provided Wit-hsto'ps a pair of movable members position'edtherebetween for engaging said shifters, saidinembers hav ing bev'eled adjacent ends, a locking bolt in vablebetween said members to maintain the same in locked en a ement with said V b h shifters, and a spring held device cooperating with the adjacent beveled ends of said members and movable independently of the bolt for yieldably separating the members to maintain the same in cooperation withsaidshifters to -retain said shifters in their adjusted position. j I" i 3. In combination with a gear shifter provided with a plurality of stops, a member movable laterally toand from said shifter for coiiperation with the stops thereof, said'member provided with a beveled surface, a locking bolt capable of positioning to engage the said member when received in said stops to preclude disengagement of the member from said stop on 105. ers to retain said shiftersin their adjusted the movement of the shifter device, and a separate spring held device cooperating with, the beveled surface of said member and movable independently of the bolt for normally and yieldably maintaining the outer end of said member in engagement with said' shifter and normally seated within one of said stops to maintain said shifter in its adjusted position.

4. In combination with a pair of gear ad acent surfaces Wltll shifters to retain said shifters in their ad-.

justed position, and a locking member movable independently of said device at all times and capable of operation to look through said members said shifters from movement.

5. In combination with a pair of gear shifters provided with stops, a walled open- 1n se ted by a second walled opening arranged at an angle to said first walled opening, said second walled opening being open at its upper end, a pair of movable members positioned within said first walled opening and adapted one for cooperating with the stops of each of said shifters, said members provided on their adjacent inner ends with a beveled surface, a spring held device within said second opening for yieldably engaging said beveled surfaces to normally separate said members to maintain their outer ends in yieldable engagement with the stops of said shifters, and a'locking bolt movable in-)' dependently of said spring held device and within said second opening and longitudinally movable to position the inner end thereof between said members to preclude movement of said members toward each other.

6. In combination with a pair of gear shifters provided with stops on their adjacent faces, a walled opening connecting.

said shifters, a second walled opening intersecting said first walled opening and extending therethrough, said second walled opening being open at one end, a pair of movable members positioned between said first walled opening and one cooperating with each of said shifters. said members provided on their adjacent inner ends with beveled surfaces, a coiled spring in the said second opening, a reciprocating member as- Sociated with one end thereof and maintained thereby in engagement with the bev- 0 connecting said gear shifters and intereledsurfaces of said members to normally separate. the same and maintain the outer ends thereof in yieldable engagement with said shifters, a locking bolt longitudinally movable independently of's aid spring h'eld device and positioned within the upper end of said second opening with its upper end projecting through the upper open end of 7 said second opening,.said bolt adapted for depression to position the lower end thereof between the inner ends of said members to preclude movement of the same toward each other, a spring for normally retaining said bolt in its raised position, and means for locking said bolt in its depressed position.

' 7 In combination with a pair of gear shifters provided on adj acent surfaces with a, stop, a pair of movable'members posi-f tioned therebetween for cooperating at their opposite ends with said shifters, said members formed on their adjacent inner ends with beveled surfaces, a spring disposed angularly to the inner ends of said members, a separating device having a surface fashioned to cooperate with the beveled surfaces of said members and disposed between the beveled surfaces of said members and said spring for normally separating said members to yieldably retain the outer ends therei of in cooperation with said shifters to reand a locking bolt capable of reciprocating movement to engage said members to lock the same in engagement with said stop, independently of said separating device.

.8. In combination with a pair of gear shifters provided on adjacent surfaces with a stop, a pair of movable members positioned therebetween for cooperating at their opposite ends with said shifters, said members formed on their adjacent inner ends withbeveled surfaces, a spring disposed angularly to the inner ends of said members, a separating spring in engagement with said beveled surfaces of said members for normally separating said members to yieldably retain the outer ends thereof in cooperation with said shifters to retain said shifters in their ad device yieldably held by said ,95 tain said shifters in their adjusted position,

pendently of said separator and movable at 1 all times independently of said device for locking said members in said stops. 7 c

9. In combination with, a pair of gear shifters provided on adjacent surfaces with a stop, a pair of movable members posi tioned therebetween for cooperating at their opposite ends with said shifters, said mem-- bers formed on their adjacent inner ends with beveled surfaces, a spring disposedanengagement with I gularly to the inner ends of said members, 7

a spreader having a surface fashioned to cooperate with the beveled surfaces of said members and disposed between the beveled surfaces of said members and said spring for normally separatlng sald members to yieldably retain theouter ends thereof in cooperation with said shifters to retain said shifters in their adjusted position, andia locking bolt movable at all times independ ently of said spreader for positioning between the adjacent ends of said members to preclude inward movement of'sai'd mem bers to lock said shifters in their adjusted 10 position. v

In testimony whereof I have-signed my 7 name to this specification in the presence of asubsoribing Witness. i

GEORGE ENSEN Witness: r l i D. B. RICHARDS. 

